U.S. to Impose New 25% Tariffs on European Cheese, Wine, and Spirits

The Trump Administration today announced that the U.S. will impose new tariffs on European goods beginning October 18. The tariffs are being introduced in an attempt to recoup losses sustained by American-based plane manufacturer Boeing.

The announcement came after the World Trade Organization granted the United States permission to tax European exports up to $7.5 billion annually. In addition to the 10 percent tariff on European aircraft, a list provided by the Office of the United States Trade Representative shows that a variety of European foods and drinks will be hit with a 25 percent tariff.

The list doesn’t make pleasant reading for fans of cheese, wine, and spirits.

Among the items in the eight-page document are wines from Germany, Spain, France, and the U.K., as long as they do not contain more than 14-percent ABV and are not bottled in containers larger than two liters.

Irish Whiskey and Scotch are also among the items slapped with the 25-percent tariff, as are liqueurs and cordials (think Amari) from Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the U.K.